Biden 2008: 'Obama Ain't Takin' My Shotguns'

On September 20, 2008, then Senator Joe Biden told a crowd in Castlewood, Virgnia, “I guarantee you Barack Obama ain’t taking my shotguns, so don’t buy that malarkey.” He added, “Don’t buy that malarkey. They’re going to start peddling that to you. I’ve got two. If he tries to fool my Beretta, he’s got a problem.”

Vice President Joe Biden is now heading up the White House’s gun violence task force. On Wednesday, he promised that the White House is willing to use “executive orders” to legislate gun control measures:

At the first meeting, Biden said he would meet later with gun owners, the National Rifle Association and representatives of the electronic games industry. He said the administration is seeking input from a wide array of groups.

He added: “The president is going to act. There are executive orders – executive action that can be taken. We haven’t decided what that is yet, but we’re compiling it all with the help of the attorney general and – and all the rest of the Cabinet members – as well as legislative action, we believe, is required.”

Attorney General Eric Holder sat next to Biden at the meeting. Executive orders could take effect relatively quickly, while legislative proposals would take much longer to wend through the legislative process.